Agriculture
Association Bemoans High Interest Rate
The African Cashew Alliance (ACA) says the 20 per cent interest charged by banks on agricultural loans cannot yield the desired growth in the nation’s agro-business.
An Executive Committee member of the alliance, Mr. Tola Faseru, made the assertion in an interview with newsmen in Lagos recently.
Faseru said that the cost of getting funds for agriculture in Nigeria was very high. According to him, the development is not favourable to the Federal Government’s plan to revolutionalise agriculture as the country’s economic nerve.
He said that agriculture could not work on the basis of 20 per cent interest rate in the country. “Don’t forget we are in a global economy. “For me, agriculture is a sector that has to be supported because it provides jobs for over 70 per cent of our people, of course the rural population, the women and the youths.
“So something needs to be done and I encourage the finance sector to support agriculture.’’
Faseru said that the only way farmers could increase productivity and self-sufficiency in the sector, was to ease access to bank loans.
He said that the association was working with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to look at ways to ease farmers’ access to such loans. ·
“Financing is very important for our farmers. One of the things that we are doing, we have spoken to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and we are looking at ways of making finances accessible to the farmers.
“When you are talking about interest rates from the banks, it’s about 15, some 20 per cent.’’ Faseru said that rather than depending on the local banks and government, the association was also sourcing funds from other international bodies. He said that the facilities were obtained at low interest rates.
According to him, other countries, particularly in Asia and parts of Africa, which have done well in agriculture, have received various forms of support from international organisations. Faseru identified such international organisations to include the World Bank, the UNDP, the UNICEF, the International Finance Cooperation (IFC) and the African Development Bank (ADB), among others.
He said that the association planned to provide the inputs like fertilisers and seedlings to the farmers across the country.
According to him, farmers will also be trained on how to handle production of cashew, particularly on the post-harvest activities in 2013.
Faseru said that the measure would assist the cashew farmers to improve the quality and reduce the wastages.
“This will help them to improve their quality and reduce the wastages, which we had last year. “Of course, it will also improve the international rating of Nigeria’s cashew.’’ He stressed the association’s resolve to establish many processing factories this year.
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.
The Niger State Government has mapped out 10,000 hectares of farmland in Gbapo Community of Katcha Local Government Area of the State for smallholder farmers to benefit from the state government’s agricultural intervention programme.
Two thousand out of the 10,000 holders of the farmlands have already received inputs.
At a flag-off ceremony in Yinti Village, the facilitator of the programme, Shinkafan Nupe, Malam Idris Usman Makanta, assured the farmers of increased distributions to the mapped-out ten thousand (10,000) farmlands if farmers respond positively.
He explained that the commencement of the two thousand is to measure the positive response of farmers before obtaining full-scale support.
Malam Makanta stated that this initiative aligns with the farmers’ initial commitment through Niger Foods, whose mission is primarily geared towards establishing efficient and profitable agricultural businesses to support the present administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s quest to boost agricultural productivity in the state.
He also commended Niger Foods for their steadfastness and resilience in the effective implementation of the input financing scheme.
Makanta reiterated the commitment of the State Governor in making judicious use of the arable land in the state.
Shinkafan Nupe, therefore, urged the farmers to support the Governor by using the inputs wisely so that the dream can be actualised.
The Gombe State Government has empowered a total of 573,429 farmers and entrepreneurs under the 4th phase of the GO-CARES programme.
The programme was officially flagged off by Governor Inuwa Yahaya in another major step towards alleviating poverty and supporting the state’s vulnerable populations.
The Governor, while inaugurating the disbursement in Akko Community of Akko Local Government Area, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Salihu Baba Alkali, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee on GO- CARES implementation.
“The 4th phase of GO-CARES will directly and indirectly impact a total of 573,429 citizens across the state. Of these, 152,429 individuals will benefit directly through cash transfers, livelihood grants, agricultural inputs, and operational grants to small businesses”, he stated.
The Governor added that, “421,000 people will be indirect beneficiaries through infrastructural projects such as classroom blocks, healthcare facilities, WASH services, and rural infrastructure projects like culverts and drainages”.
Yahaya, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable citizens are not left behind in the state’s development.
According to him, “Earlier this year, on June 25, 2024, we flagged off the distribution of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and herbicides to less privileged farmers in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, signaling the commencement of the 4th phase implementation of GO-CARES under Result Area 2”.
The Governor reiterated that these initiatives have had a significant impact on the livelihoods of beneficiaries and the overall agricultural sector.
He explained that, “Today’s ceremony marked the simultaneous launch of activities under all three GO-CARES Result Areas for the 4th phase. These areas include: State Cash Transfer Grants: 2,500 direct beneficiaries; Labour Intensive Public Works: 2,700 direct beneficiaries; Livelihood Grants: 10,000 direct beneficiaries; and Basic Services: 405,000 indirect beneficiaries”.
